The Rock Island Trail, connecting the greater Kansas City area to Missouri’s Katy Trail system, is an experience to savor whether you are walking, cycling, or on horseback. The Katy trail is used by roughly 400,000 per year with minimal incidents. When taking photos, be careful. The Katy trail is used by roughly 400,000 per year with minimal incidents. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Ice cream is a necessity. Yes. Our combined ages are 207 years. You might not find many businesses open in most of the towns, and barely a thing on a Monday, however, Due to BRILLIANT Marketing, many small towns now have Casey's and Dollar General. Our family took a vacation by bike this weekend. Today, however, 2.5 miles of the concrete trail have been completed. The trail can heat up fast and water will often be miles away. For the past 5 years, we have a 3day/2night bicycle trip on the Katy Trail from St Charles (eastern) to Jefferson City (middle). I coordinate a middle school bicycle club at Compton Drew Middle School in the city of St.Louis. ... Katy and Frankie Lewis’ showdown revealed. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Have fun and be safe!Have you ever tried those good gummy bears they make in Merrillville? • Wear sunscreen. Enjoyed the trail, but we're not in … Should you encounter a snake the best thing to do is to give it plenty of space. • Let someone know when you are using the Katy Trail, where you are traveling, and when you will return. We rode in the rain two days, arrived at our destination after dark 2 days, had two flats, three mishaps, and saw three snakes including the copperhead we rode over. The fertile lands that surround the Missouri River bottom provide the course for much of the Katy Trail, and is the life source of numerous furry friends, and a few variety of snakes, as well, (most all non-threatening), don’t worry. And it was short on cycling but long on animals spots! Thankfully, I have “snake eyes” so I didn’t run over the dear! Tomorrow I will do better. The Katy Trail is a 237 mile (386 km) trail stretching across most of the state of Missouri.. Over half of it follows Lewis and Clark's path up the Missouri River, where you can ride beneath towering river bluffs while eagles circle overhead. Another biker stopped to help and started to hit it, but Bill stopped him. I lifted my feet up considerably as I rode past. Open year-round from sunrise to sunset, it serves hikers, joggers, and cyclists. carol dalton reviewed Katy Trail… The Katy trail is used by roughly 400,000 per year with minimal incidents. A lot of fallen trees today on the trail. Did the Marthasville to Peers portion there is a small trail off the main trail that leads to a cave in the bluffs right out of Marthasville. Pilot Grove, where we are legally camping, has a Casey’s we visited three times. Stretching from western Missouri to the St. Louis Metro area, the Katy Trail State Park is certainly high on the list of must-ride trails for avid cyclists. #firststariseetonight, Sounds like a day, neither good nor bad. Katy Trail A 237 mile Bicycle ride across unpaved Missouri . Nothing will tarnish a good adventure like a tick or mosquito encounter. A lot of bikers today on the Katy Trail. It does look beautiful there on Katy Trail!! Two of us arrived several days early, which allowed time for visiting with family, for experiencing the stunning beauty of the Missouri Botanical Garden, and for becoming familiar with the charming town of St. Charles. We have seen numerous Copperhead Snakes on the Katy Trail. And oh yea if you happen to be a data person we saw four box turtles and one black snake. ( Log Out /  In fact if you didn’t look closely, you would think it was a wayward piece of grass the wind had blown onto the Katy. ( Log Out /  Change ), Great Divide Mountain Bike Ride | August 2021, Learn more about us and the bike trip on Lindsey’s podcast. SNAKE IN THE GRASS ... travelled across the countries in 1975 committing their crimes on what was known as the "Hippie Trail". The best way to say this to tell people “all sticks are snakes until proven otherwise”. SNAKES! Unfortunately for us, during our visit in September the thermometer was near 100. Up early and out of the gate before eight we started when it was cool. And oh yea if you happen to be a data person we saw four box turtles and one black snake. I forget the brand name but they’re the best in the world and should have a similar sugar make-up as a jelly bean. Route and Stats. Like any outdoor adventure, some simple actions can reduce threats. Just a beautiful day! Much of it follows alongside… "I wanted to keep it for a pet and be nice to it," Vince said Monday in a telephone conversation from his home. Katy Trail State Park, Missouri State Parks Moniteau Creek at Manitou Bluffs is a High Potential Historic Site on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. • Invest in a good insect repellent in warm months. The Katy Trail is a nice flat trail you can take your kids on. When complete, the Trinity Strand Trail will be a 7.8-mile link between the Katy Trail and the Trinity River. On Wednesday September 15, 2016, Lois and Jean and I began our Katy Trail adventure in Clinton Missouri. Katfish Katy's is a charming neo-Victorian store right on the trail in Huntsdale with the friendliest proprietors you could ever hope for. It was clear blue sky all day with bright sun shining on prairies that peeked through the tree line along the Katy. Other than a few snake and turtle […] Read more. Hope cold is getting better and that Jelly Bellys provide the needed umph tomorrow! 3. (Sat, 06/08/2013) The Katy Trail is the longest developed rail-to-trail in the country. 2016 Rides, Rider Updates ... “Training ride planned on the Katy Trail in Missouri hitting some gravel loops off the trail to get some climbing in. Hang in there. August tends to be be the most active times for snakes in Missouri so do not be surprised to see one sunbathing along the trail. I found the Jelly Belly jelly beans in the ” kitchen” and they’re goin’ in the day bag on the back of my bike tomorrow! Katy Trail is a designated City of Dallas park and maintains regular park hours of 5 a.m. to midnight. Advisory: May 2020 - In June 2019, parts of the Katy Trail were flooded. ... just look the road, in summer there is a lot of snakes and you don't want ride on them. Route: Clinton, MO to St. Charles, MO, 225 miles on the longest Rails to Trails bicycle trail in the USA. Spinach and asparagus and Donald Trump also fall into that group. I thought we hit the jackpot before breakfast with this little guy who camped out on Tom’s bike bag. Routes and Stats 2018: Cycling the Katy Trail. Busch cans however were made for Tom’s Co-Op! The Katy Trail is perfect for your Boy Scout Troop. We came up with the idea early September when our weekly bike rides averaged ten miles. These include snakes, both venomous and nonvenomous varieties. He also hung the clothes line and set up the tent. We rode almost 80 miles on the Katy Trail through rural Missouri. Your email address will not be published. XO. Like any outdoor adventure, some simple actions can reduce threats. Because. Take time to familiarize yourself with the snakes of Oklahoma. We rode a total of 233.34 miles in 5 1/2 days. It stretches 240 miles across Missouri from Machens (just west of St. Louis) to Clinton, with plans to extend it to Kansas City. ... rabbits, turtles, and several snakes including one Copper Head that had coiled up right in the middle of the trail with his head sticking up. • If you are not an expert of identifying poisonous snakes do not approach them or venture into areas of tall grass where they may be hiding. Posts about Katy Trail written by Deb. Just a beautiful day! Required fields are marked *. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Although seldom seen, keep your distance from any snakes. The Katy Trail today is a welcome reprieve from the hustle and bustle of some the densest areas of the city, as it snakes through much of Uptown. One other helpful hint: bring your own TP as the restrooms along the trail may not be stocked. Day Three brought another stellar day for cycling. We carried personal belongings and everything we needed for Nathaniel’s medical care with us. Your email address will not be published. We biked for a couple of hours right after sunrise. Bald eagles aren’t the only wildlife, though! • Carry some form of dog repellent. Bill and snake on Katy Trail 2017. The trail today. What can I say? Because. ( Log Out /  • Carry some form of dog repellent. Because. A mile into my ride I came upon a rough green snake. Also, be aware that rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouth snakes live in Dallas. Snakes fall into that category of things that I was scared of or disliked when I was younger, but that I now like or at least appreciate the benefit they provide. • Let someone know when you are using the Katy Trail, where you are traveling, and when you will return. Now he knows better than to pick up a copperhead. When Your Neighbors Don’t Want You to Play in Their Yard. Ice cream is a necessity. The proprietors opened the campground and store earlier in the season than scheduled and even restocked with things we wanted to eat! Marilyn Monson writes: In October, three friends and I flew to Missouri to cycle on the Katy Trail. It wasn’t a goal or dream we’ve had for years. Like any outdoor adventure, some simple actions can reduce threats. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Character of the ride: I thought of "Sylvan" because most of the trail has trees on at least one side and often both. Enjoy! It was clear blue sky all day with bright sun shining on prairies that peeked through the tree line along the Katy. Sun is starting to break through but it is still cold and windy. It runs 240 miles (390 km), largely along the northern bank of the Missouri River, in the right-of-way of the former Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad. Tom was on dinner duty tonight. Wimp junction for me today. Predictions and Preferences | Whaddya Think? Since I left my iPhone at wimp junction today pics of the actual ride are sparse. • Wear sunscreen. To enjoy your day on the Katy Trail, remember to bring your water, sunscreen, insect repellant, cash, and camera. ... August tends to be be the most active times for snakes in Missouri so do not be surprised to see one sunbathing along the trail. For decades, this western Missouri connection has been a holy grail sought by trail advocates. Summer is on its way. Considering how beautiful a day it was, there was surprisingly a lack of activity. The Katy Trail path I follow is covered by a tunnel of trees and is flat as a pancake. Absolutely! Off we went heading toward St. Charles finding one of the first “high” points below. They just coaxed the snake off the bike. Copperheads ARE poisonous Snakes. It lay along the trail like a delicate strand of emerald grass. Pilot Grove, where we are legally camping, has a Casey’s we visited three times. Some sections of the trail offer shade while others may not offer cover for a mile or more. It is built on the former corridor of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (MKT or Katy). The Katy Trail is in wonderful condition and is an amazing feature for bikers and hikers. Tom, aka, “Rocket” is able to motor forward at a fairly good clip while I limp up the inclines and pedal as fast as I can down hill. The Katy trail compasses a little over 237 miles if ridden from Clinton to St. Louis, and is a designated Missouri State park. And it packs poorly in panniers. What also has been accompanying bikers lately, however, is not so enjoyable. The Katy Trail State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Missouri that contains the Katy Trail, the country's longest recreational rail trail. Pretty sure my sleeping bag beckons. Vince Giancola, 11, knew a lot about snakes when he went searching for reptiles Saturday on the Katy Trail near his home in the Harvester area. Make sure to look out for these snakes while you’re on the trail. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. #wheninMO #drinklocal. The trail could not have been more accommodating today and either could the weather. I also thought about "Dusty" because of the dust from the trail's crushed limestone surface. Some portions of the Katy Trail have very little shade. This weekend alone we saw deer, snakes, birds, and turtles, and it was all I could do to keep my bike tires from smushing all the baby frogs that were hopping across the trail. Some rural areas along the trail have dogs off leash. The walking and biking pathway snakes along the original channel of the Trinity River, now accommodating the Turtle Creek. The picture to which she referred was of an Eastern Hognose snake I encountered along the Katy Trail. Absolutely! • If you think you brought enough water, bring more. We had the privilege of being their first campers of 2006! ( Log Out /  Even in 100 degree weather, the trail is cool enough to pedal along as breezes from the Missouri River accompany bikers. Be sure to give your pup extra water as you’re walking through these sections. The Katy Trail: a ride report. Did you say RUN 100 miles or RIDE a hundred miles. Katy Trail Wildlife. Running on a railbed corridor formerly used by the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, the Katy trail is the longest “rails to trails” project in the United States, carving a 225-mile swath across nearly the entire state of Missouri, half of which follows Lewis and Clark’s trail. Had the privilege of being their first campers of 2006 countries in 1975 committing crimes... Ve had for years care with us nothing will tarnish a good adventure like a tick or mosquito.... Insect repellent in warm months began our Katy Trail off leash have dogs off leash Monson writes: October! Of being their first campers of 2006 hours right after sunrise ride unpaved... 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